Biographical notes

Details of this family are very sketchy. No record of their marriage appears to have survived but it was probably about 1807. The first reference is in the Parish Registers for Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, which lists the christening of their first child, John, in 1808. Subsequent references show they moved to Wades Mill, Thundridge, Hertfordshire, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

In the 1841 Census which records the family living in Wades Mill, Thundridge, Hertfordshire. William Tillcock (55), born Hertfordshire, builder, with Sarah Tillcock (55) born Hertfordshire with inferred children Charles Tillcock (20), Sawyer, born Hertfordshire; Louisa Tillcock (12), born Herts., and Maria Tillcock (9) born Herts. On the same page but at different addresses in Wades Mill are Thomas Tillcock (25) a [black]smith, born in Herts., Sampson Tillcock (15), Baker [apprentice?], born Herts.

The parentage and Thundridge place and dates of birth of Louisa (1828) and Maria (1831) Tillcock are confirmed in the parish records listed on the LDS website (batches C072981 and C072983), although only the christian name of the mother (Sarah) is given.

Another inferred son, Henry Tillcock, is recorded in the 1841 Census living at Lower Edmonton in Middlesex; Henry Tillcock (25), farrier, (not born in census county), living with his inferred wife Sarah (20), not born in census county.

In the 1851 Census Henry and Sarah are recorded as living in Church Street, Edmonton; Henry Tillcock (38), Head, married, smith and farrier, born Herts, Wades Mill; Sarah Tillcock (46), wife, born Herts, Gt, Mundon. This provides very strong circumstantial evidence that Henry was the son of William and Sarah Tillcock.

William and Sarah are listed in the 1851 Census still living on their own at Wades Mill; William Tillcock (67), Head Marr., Carpenter, born Herts, Ware; Sarah Tillcock (65), Wife, Marr, born Herts Standon.

In the 1861 Census William and Sarah are still at the same address; William Tillcock (79), Head, Marr, Carpenter, born Herts, Ware; Sarah Tillcock (75), Wife, Marr, born Herts, Standon.

The 1861 Census took place on the 7 April 1861. The couple do not appear in the 1871 Census. It looks as if William Tillcock died in the second quarter of 1861 (April-June) soon after the 1861 Census had been taken. It appears that Sarah Tillcock died in the last quarter of the following year (1862 October-December Ware 3a 133). Neither of these index entries have been verified

The other link between Samson Tillcock as part of this family is Samson's marriage certificate (1845) which gives the identity of his father as William Tillcock with the profession of Carpenter.